Manual seat height adjuster mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963050-B2
Application number	US-201615053717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A manually operated seat height adjustment actuator mechanism includes a rotatory actuator-driven torque input mechanism defining a first axis and a torque output mechanism defining a second axis offset from the first axis. The rotatory actuator-driven torque input mechanism is provided by a planetary gear assembly. The torque output mechanism comprises a cycloidal drive assembly including eccentrically driven gears. Linking gearing operatively links the torque input mechanism and the torque output mechanism. The eccentrically driven gears engage an output pinion configured to engage a gear segment of a seat height adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering a seat.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A manually operated seat height adjustment actuator mechanism, comprising:
a rotatory actuator-driven torque input mechanism comprising a planetary gear assembly defining a first axis;
a torque output mechanism comprising a worm gear driving eccentric pins engaging a cycloidal drive assembly comprising at least one eccentrically driven gear engaged by the pins, the torque output mechanism defining a second axis that is offset from and parallel to the first axis; and
linking gearing operatively linking the torque input mechanism and the torque output mechanism.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the planetary gear assembly comprises:
a ring gear;
cooperating sets of orbiting planetary gears engaging the ring gear and a common sun gear; and
an output driver driven by a one of the cooperating sets of orbiting planetary gears and configured to drive the linking gearing.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the linking gearing comprises transversely oriented bevel gears configured to drive the torque output mechanism.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the torque output mechanism comprises a worm gear driving eccentric pins.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the cycloidal drive assembly comprises a pair of eccentrically driven gears, including the at least one eccentrically driven gear.

6. The mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the eccentrically driven gears engage an output pinion configured to engage a gear segment operatively linked to a seat height adjustment mechanism.

7. A vehicle seat including the mechanism of claim 1 .

8. An adjustable vehicle seat assembly, comprising:
a seat defined by at least a back portion and a bottom portion; and
a manually operated seat height adjustment actuator mechanism, comprising:
a rotatory actuator-driven torque input mechanism comprising a planetary gear assembly defining a first axis;
a torque output mechanism comprising a worm gear driving eccentric pins engaging a cycloidal drive assembly comprising at least one eccentrically driven gear engaged by the pins, the torque output mechanism defining a second axis that is offset from and parallel to the first axis; and
linking gearing operatively linking the torque input mechanism and the offset torque output mechanism.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the planetary gear assembly comprises:
a ring gear;
cooperating sets of orbiting planetary gears engaging the ring gear and a common sun gear; and
an output driver driven by a one of the cooperating sets of orbiting planetary gears and configured to drive the linking gearing.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the linking gearing comprises transversely oriented bevel gears configured to drive the torque output mechanism.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the torque output mechanism comprises a worm gear driving eccentric pins.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the cycloidal drive assembly comprises a pair of eccentrically driven gears, including the at least one eccentrically driven gear.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the eccentrically driven gears engage an output pinion configured to engage a gear segment operatively linked to a seat height adjustment mechanism disposed within the seat.

14. A vehicle including the assembly of claim 7 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Pichardo Ramirez Mario Miguel
• Santillan Gutierrez Diego
• Garcia Lannoy Mario

Classifications

• B60N2/166

  Worm and worm gear articulations · CPC title

• B60N2/18

  the front or the rear portion of the seat being adjustable, e.g. independently of each other · CPC title

• B60N2/1655 Primary

  Cycloidal or planetary mechanism · CPC title

• B60N2/00 Primary

  Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles (railway seats B61D33/00; cycle seats B62J1/00; aircraft seats B64D11/06, B64D25/04, B64D25/10) · CPC title

• B60N2/1615

  Parallelogram-like structure · CPC title